The 48-hour junior doctor strike planned for next week has been called off but “concrete progress” needs to be made on the contractual dispute for action planned next month to be averted.

LAST WEEK: In pictures: Junior doctors across south west London and north Surrey join in nationwide strike

The strikes, planned for next Tuesday, would have seen tens of thousands of trainees in England provide emergency care-only cover while junior doctors across the country, including from Epsom, St Helier, St George's, Royal Marsden, Croydon and Kingston hospitals were on the picket line.

Announcing the decision to call of strikes today British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctor committee chair Johann Malawana said differences still existed between the union and the Government but the association’s focus was on building on the initial progress made.

“The BMA’s aim has always been to deliver a safe, fair junior doctor contract through negotiated agreement.

“Following junior doctors’ clear message to the Government during last week’s action, our focus is now on building on early progress made in the current set of talks.

“It is important to be clear, however, that differences still exist between the BMA and the Government on key areas, including the protection of patient safety and doctor’s working lives and the recognition of unsocial hours.

“Significant, concrete progress will need to be made if future action, currently planned for February 10, is to be averted.”

Under the contracts junior doctors in England will get an increase in their basic pay, but will have to work more weekends while guaranteed pay rises linked to time in the job will be axed and bonus pay for working unsociable hours will be curbed.

Last week junior doctors staged a 24-hour walk-out with negotiators saying not enough progress had been made on the issue of safeguarding as the number of working hours deemed “unsociable” is cut.

If an agreement cannot be reached a full walk-out between 8am and 5pm is planned for February 10.

Strike action was also suspended in December following five days of negotiations on the proposed new contracts.

Reacting to the news of the cancelled strike, John Goulston, chief executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said: "This is great news for our patients, and will be a welcome relief for our staff who have been working solidly to minimise the potential disruption.

"No operations or appointments had been cancelled next week, but we would have had to have made a decision within the next few days should the strike have gone ahead.

“Every effort has been made to reschedule appointments for our patients who were affected on the first day of industrial action. We would again like to thank our patients for their understanding.

“We hope that the BMA, Department of Health and NHS Employers can now find a lasting resolution.”

Are you a junior doctor? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6300 or email andrea.downey@newsquest.co.uk